Michael McFaul

A new era of great power competition has begun. I explore what America must do next in my book Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder. www.amazon.com/dp/0358677874

michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/trumps-cap...

Has America abandoned Ukraine? A timely conversation with @intelligence2. Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/1bae...

Vučić is out in Serbia. Bolsonaro's family is not returning to power in Brazil. Machado is back in Venezuela. Great day for democracy! Up next, elections in Israel this week. Elections in the US next week.

In NYC today.

michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/trumps-cap...

Why does Trump seem more comfortable with Putin & Xi than with America's democratic allies? I discussed this, the rise of autocracy, the war in Ukraine & the future of American democracy on the Democracy Paradox podcast. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ei6...

Trump's admiration for Putin is nothing new. What's changed is that his words are now being matched by actions. The United States is increasingly siding with autocratic Russia over democratic Ukraine. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/trumps-cap...

Why are democracies generally more enduring allies? What drives Putin's aggression? And where does Trump fit into the divide between autocrats and democrats? Great discussion with Democracy Paradox. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ei6...

Trump’s actions toward Russia and Ukraine have left me deeply troubled. I've discussed why in several interviews, along with broader questions about autocrats, democrats, and U.S. foreign policy. Listen to these recent podcast conversations here: michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/trump-puti...

Putin believes Western leaders can be bought off. That everyone has a price. His strategy with Trump? Promise lucrative business deals once Ukraine is “out of the way” to secure the concessions he wants I hope that strategy won't succeed. I fear it might. Maybe it already is?

Earlier this week, I told @thebulwark.com that Witkoff was always trying to be Putin’s friend. Today, he called Putin a “humanitarian.” Putin sees this as weakness. These guys are in way over their heads.

Putin is escalating his attacks on Ukraine. Why is Trump making it easier for him? I joined @timmiller.bsky.social at @thebulwark.com to discuss intelligence cuts, Russia’s strategy, and the consequences of Trump’s approach to Ukraine.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RsI...

An early start (4 a.m.!) for me today, but always a pleasure to join NPR. We discussed Trump's latest moves to embrace Russia and what they mean for U.S. foreign policy. Listen here: www.npr.org/2026/10/20/n...

Let's be clear: Ukraine did not start this war. Russia did. What American national interest is served by helping an imperial dictator at the expense of a democracy fighting for its survival?

My latest (with gift link) thedispatch.com/article/trum...

My latest: Trump’s Capitulation to Putin Is Undermining U.S. National Security thedispatch.com/article/trum...

Appeasement does not work with Putin.

I'm puzzled by Marco Rubio's role as Secretary of State. Why are Witkoff and Kushner taking the lead on major negotiations over war and peace, rather than America's chief diplomat?

Nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine at the table.

Earlier this week, I told @thebulwark.com that Witkoff was always trying to be Putin’s friend. Today, he called Putin a “humanitarian.” Putin sees this as weakness. These guys are in way over their heads.

Putin is escalating his attacks on Ukraine. Why is Trump making it easier for him? I joined @timmiller.bsky.social at @thebulwark.com to discuss intelligence cuts, Russia’s strategy, and the consequences of Trump’s approach to Ukraine.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RsI...

Putin fears democracy more than NATO expansion. I joined @ClearerThnTruth to discuss Putin's imperial ambitions, why appeasement won't end his war in Ukraine, and what it will take to achieve a lasting peace. Listen to our conversation: open.spotify.com/episode/5DLW...

I'm puzzled by Marco Rubio's role as Secretary of State. Why are Witkoff and Kushner taking the lead on major negotiations over war and peace, rather than America's chief diplomat?

Why does Trump seem more comfortable with Putin & Xi than with America's democratic allies? I discussed this, the rise of autocracy, the war in Ukraine & the future of American democracy on the Democracy Paradox podcast. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ei6...

Let's be clear: Ukraine did not start this war. Russia did. What American national interest is served by helping an imperial dictator at the expense of a democracy fighting for its survival?

I'm not an expert on American electoral politics, but it's hard for me to understand how Trump's embrace of Putin— a leader who over 80% of Americans don't like—helps Republicans win more votes in November.

An early start (4 a.m.!) for me today, but always a pleasure to join NPR. We discussed Trump's latest moves to embrace Russia and what they mean for U.S. foreign policy. Listen here: www.npr.org/2026/10/20/n...

Trump Has Shamelessly Abandoned Ukrainians Doing so does not advance American interests or values. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/trump-has-...

Trump has given Putin concession after concession: ending aid to Ukraine, keeping Ukraine out of NATO, giving Putin a red carpet summit, dissing Zelenskyy, wavering sanctions, disrupting intelligence sharing with Ukraine. And Putin has never changed his position on continuing the war. Not one inch.

Speaking tomorrow at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Come join us! www.discovernewport.org/listing/ochr...

Trump has given Putin concession after concession: ending aid to Ukraine, keeping Ukraine out of NATO, giving Putin a red carpet summit, dissing Zelenskyy, wavering sanctions, disrupting intelligence sharing with Ukraine. And Putin has never changed his position on continuing the war. Not one inch.

I have some thoughts on this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf8J...

Helping Putin at Ukraine's expense doesn't make America safer. It emboldens Russia, undermines our alliances, and risks encouraging other autocrats to believe that aggression pays. Standing with Ukraine is both the right thing to do and in America's national interest.

One of the worst weeks for U.S.–Ukraine relations in recent memory. I'm outraged by the Trump administration's decisions and their potential consequences for Ukrainian lives. America should stand with democracies, not dictatorships.

If it continues, Trump's pivot to support Putin w/out limits will go down in history as one of America's worst foreign policy decisions ever. I would think people like Rubio might not want to go down in history as a supporter of this decision and might try to reverse it. But no sign of that yet.

If it continues, Trump's pivot to support Putin w/out limits will go down in history as one of America's worst foreign policy decisions ever. I would think people like Rubio might not want to go down in history as a supporter of this decision and might try to reverse it. But no sign of that yet.

One of the worst weeks for U.S.–Ukraine relations in recent memory. I'm outraged by the Trump administration's decisions and their potential consequences for Ukrainian lives. America should stand with democracies, not dictatorships.

I'm LIVE on Substack to discuss the Trump–Putin diesel deal, its fallout, and what it means for the war in Ukraine and U.S.–Russia relations. Join me at McFaul's World: michaelmcfaul.substack.com

I'll be on Substack Live in one hour, at 11 am California time, to answer all your questions! Join if you can.

Happening today! More details here: michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/join-me-on...

Americans , including US government officials, live and work in Kyiv. I would think our president would want them to be protected.

Join me LIVE this Friday to discuss the Trump–Putin diesel deal, its fallout, and what it means for the war in Ukraine and U.S.–Russia relations. Friday, October 16 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET Live on my Substack (McFaul's World) More details here: michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/join-me-li...